Aerosol container cap



June 18, 1968 WINDMAN AEROSOL CONTAINER CAP Filed June 26, 1967 Mueeky VV/mp/em/v United States Patent Oflice 3,388,829 Patented June 18, 1968 3,388,829 AEROSQL CONTAINER CAP Murray Windman, 3325 Union Pacific Ave., Los Augeles, Calif. 90023 Filed June 26, 1967, Ser. No. 648,873 6 Claims. (Cl. 220-60) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plastic cap having a stepped flange which snaps over the rim of an aerosol can. Latch ribs within the flange prevent ready removal. An outwardly and upwardly &- set portion of the flange forms a channel to receive a tool such as a screwdriver, so that the tool may be used as a lever to pry the cap free of the can.

Background of invention An extremely large range of goods are now sold in aerosol cans. Many of these goods are sold in self-service stores and are, therefore, handled by the public. Many aerosol cans are covered by readily removable caps, that is, caps which may be removed by hand without the use of tools. Often the caps are removed in the store before sale and accidentally or mischievously operated. This becomes particularly serious if the can contains insect poisons, paint and the like.

The present invention seeks to solve this problem by providing a cap which is fitted too tight to permit accidental or mischievous removal of the cap, yet is readily removed by use of a tool such as a screwdriver. More particularly, the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an aersol container cap wherein a flange is held against the bead of an aerosol container by a set of latch ribs, projecting inwardly from a skirt depending from the flange, the skirt being provided with a radially outward projecting step and the flange being provided with a raised step, the steps being joined and forming a channel passing over the bead whereby a prying tool may be inserted for engagement with the bead in such a manner as to force the cap free of the bead.

Second to provide an aerosol container cap which is readily molded in one piece and is free of slots piercing the wall of the container and the attendant molding problem.

Description of figures FIGURE 1 is a side view of the aerosol container cap, with the aerosol container indicated fragmentarily.

FIGURE 2 is another side view of the container cap, taken at right angles to FIGURE 1, and showing the aerosol container fragmentarily, the portion of the container within the cap being indicated by dotted outline.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the aerosol container cap.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken through 4-4 of FIGURE 1, showing the channel provided for insertion of a prying tool.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken through 55 of FIGURE 1, showing the manner in which the locking rib engages the bead of the aerosol container.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIGURE 5, illustrating the manner in which a prying tool lifts the cap from the container.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to FIGURE 5, showing a latching rib as it clears the bead of the container.

FIGURE 8 is a side view, similar to FIGURE 2, showing a modified cap.

Specification The cap is intended to be used on an aerosol container 1, which is provided with a cover 2, joined to the container by a peripherial bead 3. Mounted in the cover 2 is a dispensing spray head 4. The dispensing spray head 4 is joined to the cover by a second bead 5, similar to the bead 3, but smaller in diameter.

The cap, designated generally by 6, includes a cylindrical, or tapered side wall 7, joined to a top wall 8. The lower margin of the side wall 7 is provided with a radially outwardly directed flange 9, dimensioned to rest on the bead 3 of the container. The outer periphery of the flange 9 is provided with a depending skirt 10 which overlies the bead 3. Extending radially inwardly from the skirt 10, is a set of latching ribs 11. Three latching ribs are shown, however more or less may be provided; in fact, the latching rib may be a continuous rib.

The cap is formed of a plastic material, having sufficient elastomeric qualities so that the skirt 10 may stretch and permit the latching ribs 11 to snap over the bead 3, so as to bear against the underside of the bead and resist removal of the cap. However, if suflicient force is applied, the latching ribs may be forced over the bead 3 to permit removal of the cap. The dimensions of the latching ribs, the wall thickness of the skirt and the type of elastic selected are such that more force is required to remove the cap than can be supplied by a person merely pulling or twisting on the cap.

The skirt 10 is provided with a radially outwardly extending step 12, and the flange 9 is provided with an upwardly extending step 13, which are joined to form an angular channel 14, which clears the bead 3, as shown in FIGURE 4. The step 12 extends slightly below the bead 3 and its lower extremity forms a bearing edge 15.

Operation of the cap is as follows:

When it is desired to remove the cap from the aerosol container, a prying tool such as a screwdriver S is inserted upwardly between the step 12 and the bead, and then is rotated to bring the tip of the prying tool onto the top of the head .3 so that the bead forms a fulcrum. As the prying tool is rotated, the bearing edge 15 is engaged so that an upward thrust is exerted on the cap. Continued rotation of the prying tool lifts the cap high enough to cause at least one of the latching ribs 11 to clear the bead 3, as indicated in FIGURE 7.

It is preferred, if a set of three latching ribs is provided, to split one of the latching ribs so that a portion thereof extends on either side of the channel, as shown in FIG URE 3. With this arrangement, free movement due to any twisting or stretching of the plastic material in the region of the channel, is minimized. That is, an essentially direct upward thrust is applied to the two portions of the latching ribs on either side of the channel.

Reference is directed to FIGURE 8. The cap 16 here illustrated is dimensioned to fit the bead 5 which joins the dispensing spray head 4 to the cover 2. Also the skirt 17, corresponding to the skirt 10, is flared to conform to the cover 2, and the radially outward step 18 corresponding to the step 12, is flared to accommodate a prying tool. Otherwise, the two caps 6 and 16 are identical and operate in the same manner.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

. 1. A cap for an aerosol container, the container hav- 3 ing a dispensing head and a peripheral bead forming an underlying abutment, said cap comprising:

(a) a top wall and a circular side wall;

(b) a flange radiating from the lower margin of said side wall dimensioned to rest on said head;

(c) a yieldable skirt depending from said flange and dimensioned to cover said head;

((1) at least one latch rib extending radially inwardly from said skirt and underlying said bead to engage said abutment to resist removal of said cap from said container;

(e) means defining an internal channel in said skirt and flange to receive a prying tool for engagement with said bead.

2. A cap, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) several of latch ribs are disposed in spaced relation within said skirt.

3. A cap, as defined in claim 2, wherein:

(a) one of said latch ribs is divided by said channel.

4. A cap for an aerosol container, the container having a dispensing head and a peripheral bead forming an underlying abutment, said cap comprising:

(a) a top wall and a circular side wall;

(b) a flange radiating from the lower margin of said side wall dimensioned to rest on said bead;

(c) a yieldable skirt depending from said flange and dimensioned to cover said bead;

(d) at least one latch rib extending radially inwardly i from said skirt and underlying said head to engage said abutment to resist removal of said cap from said container;

(e) a radially outwardly directed step in said flange;

(f) an upwardly directed step in said flange;

(g) said steps being joined and defining internally,

an angular channel extending over said head to receive a prying tool for engagement with said head;

(11) the lower edge of said outwardly directed step forming a bearing element engageable by said prying tool. a

5. A cap, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) a set of latch ribs is disposed within said skirt and are spaced from each other.

6. A cap, as defined in claim 5, wherein:

(a) one of said latch ribs is divided by the channel within said skirt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,129,839 4/1964 Grimsley 220'42 3,334,769 8/1967 Gach 220-24 3,322,298 5/1967 Gach 220-60 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

